How to Start a Workout on Apple Watch

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. . *

There’s no denying that the Apple Watch is a great accessory for any iPhone user, but one of its most useful features is its ability to track workouts. As the Apple Watch logs your workouts, you can keep track of your overall health and ensure you're meeting your fitness goals. Below, we'll show you how to start a workout on your Apple Watch.

Related: 10 Best Apple Watch Faces Apps: 999+ Custom Backgrounds

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Why You’ll Love This Tip

  • Log workouts on your Apple Watch to maintain your overall health.
  • Set fitness goals and use your Apple Watch to stay on track.

How to Start Workout on Apple Watch

Using the Workout app, you can start a workout and set fitness goals on your Apple Watch. To learn more about your Apple Watch settings, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter. Here's how to start a workout on your Apple Watch: 

  1. Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch.

    Open the Workout app on your watch.
  2. You can choose a pre-selected workout from the list.

    You can choose a pre-selected workout from the list.
  3. You can also tap Add Workout to add a workout for a different activity.

    You can also select Add Workout to add a workout for a different activity.
  4. If you select a pre-set workout, you can choose from a wide variety of activities such as Soccer, Boxing, or Fitness Gaming.

    You can choose from a wide variety of activities such as Soccer, Boxing, Fitness Gaming, and much more.
  5. Once you select a workout, you’ll see a three-second countdown before the workout begins.
  6. Once your workout begins, you can set goals for yourself. Tap the more icon next to a workout.

    If you want to set goals for yourself, tap the three dots next to a workout.
  7. Tap Open if you don't want your workout to have a specific goal. 

    Open means your workout will have no goal.
  8. Tap Calories to select the number of calories you want to hit before the end of your workout. To learn more about the accuracy of Apple Watch calories, read this.

    Calories allows you to select a number of calories you want to hit.
  9. Press the plus or minus button to increase or decrease the number of calories.

    Press the plus or minus button to increase or decrease the number of calories.
  10. Tap Distance to select a set distance you want to travel before you end the workout. (This option only shows up for workouts like walking, biking, or swimming.)

    Distance allows you to select a specific distance you want to travel.
  11. Press the plus or minus icons to increase or decrease the distance.

    Press the plus or minus button to increase or decrease the distance.
  12. To set a time goal, press Time to set how long you want your workout to last.

    Time allows you set how long you want your workout to last.
  13. Press the plus or minus icon to increase or decrease the amount of time.

    Press the plus or minus button to increase or decrease the amount of time.
  14. Once a workout begins, you can view how long you’ve been working out, your active calories, your total calories, and your heart rate.

    On this screen you can see how long you’ve been working out for, calories, and heart rate.
  15. This screen will vary depending on the type of workout selected. For example, a walk will also show you the distance you’ve covered.

    A walk will also show you the distance you’ve covered.
  16. Swipe to the right and you’ll have a variety of options, where you can lock your watch screen to prevent accidental presses from rain or sweat droplets, pause and resume the workout, or end the workout.

    Swipe to the right and you’ll have a variety of options.
  17. Swipe to the left and you’ll bring up the Now Playing screen. If you’re listening to music or a podcast while working out, you can use the controls here to pause, play, or skip forward and backward.

    Swipe to the left and you’ll bring up the Now Playing screen.

Now you’re ready to start working out like a true fitness addict! You can also start a workout using Siri. For example, you can say “Hey, Siri, start a yoga workout,” and your watch will automatically start a yoga workout with an open goal. Your workouts will be logged in the Health app on both your Apple Watch and iPhone, so you can take a look at your progress at any time. Next, learn how to add a workout manually on your Apple Watch!

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Author Details

Rhett Intriago's picture

Author Details

Rhett Intriago

Rhett Intriago is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, offering his expertise in all things iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. He enjoys writing on topics related to maintaining privacy in a digital world, as well as iPhone security. He’s been a tech enthusiast all his life, with experiences ranging from jailbreaking his iPhone to building his own gaming PC.

Despite his disdain for the beach, Rhett is based in Florida. In his free time, he enjoys playing the latest games, spoiling his cats, or discovering new places with his wife, Kyla.